The history of music of Canaa has mirrored the history and evolution of the country. From early British-style patriotic songs and the folk traditions of the many founding cultures, to the international success of cutting-edge alternative music bands, music has been an ever evolving part of Canada's cultural life. In recent decades, Canadian music, in all its forms, has come to be one of the most fully developed expressions of the Canadian identity. The country's tradition of folk music, with its basis in every region and community in the country, is complemented by strong domestic and international contributions to popular music.